Self-storing extension table

ABSTRACT

A self-storing extension table characterized by a plurality of leaves arranged to be moved between extended and collapsed positions so as to form an extension table with certain of the leaves being provided with rollers that are received in a cam groove so as to guide the leaves during movement between open and closed positions automatically.

United States Patent 3 1151 3,636,548 Maruzzelli [4 1 Jan. 18, 1972 54] SELF-STORING EXTENSION TABLE 2,658,571 11/1953 Guth et al. ..l60/l97 x [72] Inventor: Joseph Maruzzelli, 37 Walnut Street, 1 12/1955 Jamestown N Y 1470] 2,869,956 l/l959 Gaines 3,334,375 8/1967 Hubbard ..49/127 X [22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1970 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall [2]] Appl' 8559 AnorneyFreeman&Taylor [52] US. Cl ..312/282, 312/317 [57] ABSTRACT i zi l' g' ;Q 9 A self-storing extension table characterized by a plurality of 108/96 6 leaves arranged to be moved between extended and collapsed positions so as to form an extension table with certain of the l 56] References Cited leaves being provided with rollers that are received in a cam groove so as to guide the leaves during movement between UNITED STATES PATENTS open and closed positions automatically.

531,010 12/1894 Sigafoos ..312/317 R 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 51 g mg;

mmmm s'sss'saa MEET 2 0F 2 A T TORNEYS SELF-STORING EXTENSION TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the furniture field and in particular to dual purpose furniture such as extendable tables.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Space limitations have long previously prompted the use of extension-type tables that can be normally collapsed in accordion fashion so as to occupy a minimum of space, but which can then be extended to form a table arrangement capable of accommodating several persons in comfort.

Various forms of table construction of this type have been shown in the following prior art which is known to the applicant:

Menzo US. Pat. No. l,272,983 Hafckost U.S. Pat. No. 2,848,29l Chrohersky US. Pat. No. 2,884,293

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION While the above prior art shows extension tables of the general type herein being discussed, such prior art does not show appropriate guide means for directing the leaves during movement between folded and unfolded condition, with this being done either manually or by complex and cumbersome devices that are difficult to operate.

Applicant envisions the use of a recessed cam groove that coacts with the edges of the leaves so as to automatically move the same between collapsed and extended conditions during progressive opening of the table. By use of these means, applicant produces a table that is foolproof in operation while having the further advantage of protecting the leaves from damage by falling or otherwise shifting about during the opening and closing operation.

Production of an improved table having such control means, accordingly, becomes the principal object of this invention, while other objects of the invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following brief description, considered and interpreted in view of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved extension table in closed position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the table in extended position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on lines 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the hinge units, showing the same in full and phantom line positions.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the improved extension table, generally designated by the numeral 10, includes a boxlilge exclosure within which the extension leaves and the support therefor may be housed when in the closed position of FIGS. 1 and 3. The housing includes opposed vertical side members 11 and 12, top portion 13, front door members 14,14 and a hinged front panel 15, with these just described components being connected in known fashion so as to, in effect, provide a housing within which the table extension may be received. It should be understood here that while a specific style housing simulating an upright desk has been illustrated, that the housing could have any exterior design desired.

Also, and as shown in FIG. 3, a back frame member 16, and a central horizontal frame member 17, extend transversely between the opposed side members 11 and 12, so as to provide a storage chamber and point of support for attachment of the leaf members, as will presently be described.

Furthermore, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing has a movable component, generally designated by the numeral 20, with this component being generally Ushaped so as to include depending legs 21, 22, together with a false drawer panel 23 and extendable auxiliary support units 24,24, with the cover 15 of the housing being hinged to the unit 20 so as to be capable of moving outwardly therewith, as shown in FIG. 2.

The support units 24,24 are slidably mounted on the sides 20a, 20a of the movable component and can be extended, as shown in FIG. 2, to provide support for cover 15.

A second movable component 25 is shown provided so as to be intermediate the outermost unit 20 and the housing 10 when the table is unfolded to its point of maximum extension, as shown in FIG. 2. Component 25 also includes depending legs 26,26, interconnected by a transverse frame member 27 so that the extension units may be received thereon, as shown in the broken-away portion of FIG. 2. Legs 26,26 also have rollers or casters 26a, 260 on their bottom ends to facilitate movement of the unit between extended and collapsed positions.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 4, it will be noted that the extension units, generally designated by the numeral 30, include a series of individual slide units 31,31, that are telescoped within each other in known fashion so as to be either collapsible to the position of FIG. 1, or extendable to the position of FIG. 2, with the innermost of these units being secured to frame member 32 that is, in turn, secured to central frame member 17 of the housing 10, with the usual screws being employed for this purpose, and with an individual leaf 40 being received thereon so as to be supported on both the member 32 and the member 31, as shown in FIG. 4.

Turning next to FIGS. 2 and 3, the individual leaves 40,40 are all shown as being generally rectangular in plan, and are alternatively hinged, top and bottom by use of a conventional hinge 50 (FIG. 5) so as to be movable between the accordionlike collapsed position of FIG. 3, and the extended position of FIG. 2. Alternate leaves are shown provided with rollers 42,42 on their transverse edges with these rollers 42,42 being designed to be received within opposed guide slots 43,43 and are provided on the inner faces of the opposed sidewalls 11 and 12 of the housing. Thus, and considering first the innermost leaf 40a, it will be noted that the rollers 42,42 thereof will be received within the guide slots 43,43. The hinges 50,50 will be provided on leaf 40a on the underside thereof. Outboard leaf 40c is secured to the first support unit for movement therewith. As the unit is closed, the member 40a will have its inner edge 40b raised to an upright position, as the rollers move in the guide slots 43,43.

The next panel that will so react as the table is pushed in will be the panel 400, with the intermediate panel being automatically forced into the accordionlike position of FIG. 2 during the closing operation.

In opening the unit, the hinged front panel 15 is first opened and then the entire assembled unit is pulled away from housing 10. As the table is extended, the rollers follow guide slots 43,43 and the leaves open up to the flat condition of FIG. 2. When the table is extended to the desired length, the support members 24,24 can be pulled out to support front panel 15 and the table is ready for use.

It will be further noted that the camlike arrangement has a further advantage in that the table can be extended only to the extent required to accommodate the number of persons eating at that particular time. In such instances, the unused leaves will be neatly stored in place.

While a full and complete description of the invention has been set forth in accordance with the dictates of the Patent Statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment herein shown. Accordingly, modifications of the invention may be restored to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An extension table of the character described, compris- A. a housing including 1. opposed vertical side panels interconnected by front,

rear and top structural members;

B. an extendable telescoping support frame adapted to longitudinally move in a horizontal plane between collapsed and extended position with respect to the interior of said housing, with one longitudinal end of said frame being secured to said cabinet; C. a plurality of table leaves hingedly connected to each other so as to be movable between a collapsed accordionlike position and an extended horizontal position on said extendable frame, with the distal leaf being secured to a distal portion of said support frame; and D. a cam means operable between said opposed side panels and the transverse edges of said leaves including 1. a plurality of rollers disposed on the opposed edges of at least some of said leaves and 2. a single contoured groove on the inner surface of each of said side panels, extending from the plane of said leaves in extended condition to a plane that is elevated therefrom 3. said rollers being received in said grooves on the lower of said planes a. whereby said rollers ride in said grooves and said leaves are mechanically guided into and out of said collapsed accordionlike position.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that the outermost of said table leaves is hingedly attached to the next adjacent leaf and is movable between a position closing off the interior of said housing when said leaves are in collapsed condition and a position extending horizontally from said housing.

3. The device of claim 2 further characterized by the presence of auxiliary support members mounted on opposed sides of said support frame and adapted to support said outermost leaf when said table is in both collapsed and extended positions. 

1. An extension table of the character described, comprising; A. a housing including
 1. opposed vertical side panels interconnected by front, rear and top structural members; B. an extendable telescoping support frame adapted to longitudinally move in a horizontal plane between collapsed and extended position with respect to the interior of said housing, with one longitudinal end of said frame being secured to said cabinet; C. a plurality of table leaves hingedly connected to each other so as to be movable between a collapsed accordionlike position and an extended horizontal position on said extendable frame, with the distal leaf being secured to a distal portion of said support frame; and D. a cam means operable between said opposed side panels and the transverse edges of said leaves including
 1. a plurality of rollers disposed on the opposed edges of at least some of said leaves and
 2. a single contoured groove on the inner surface of each of said side panels, extending from the plane of said leaves in extended condition to a plane that is elevated therefrom
 3. said rollers being received in said grooves on the lower of said planes a. whereby said rollers ride in said grooves and said leaves are mechanically guided into and out of said collapsed accordionlike position.
 2. a single contoured groove on the inner surface of each of said side panels, extending from the plane of said leaves in extended condition to a plane that is elevated therefrom
 2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the fact that the outermost of said table leaves is hingedly attached to the next adjacent leaf and is movable between a position closing off the interior of said housing when said leaves are in collapsed condition and a position extending horizontally from said housing.
 3. The device of claim 2 further characterized by the presence of auxiliary support members mounted on opposed sides of said support frame and adapted to support said outermost leaf when said table is in both collapsed and extended positions.
 3. said rollers being received in said grooves on the lower of said planes a. whereby said rollers ride in said grooves and said leaves are mechanically guided into and out of said collapsed accordionlike position. 